November 2008 Archives

With the holiday season in full swing, you may be looking for related activities or just something fun to do. And there are plenty of choices in addition to items mentioned in Thursday's (11/27) FirstLook and today's (11/28) TGIF! These suggestions include dining, family fare, theater and more.

I recently led two sessions at a high school journalism conference at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, where SouthtownStar staffers Pat Disabato and Kristen Schorsch also gave presentations. During my review writing sessions -- which drew practicing and aspiring high school newspaper reviewers, editors and even some yearbook staffers -- I asked for the students' entertainment recommendations. And I hope to share some of those submissions in future editions of the paper's entertainment magazines on Thursdays and Fridays. But I'd also like to add more SouthtownStar readers to the mix.

For die-hard fans of Fox's show "24," it has been a loooooong wait for the seventh season of the thriller series, but thankfully we finally get a bit of main character Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland) in tonight's (11/23) two-hour "24: Redemption" movie that features a look into the troubled agent's time in Africa.

It feels as if it's been forever since we last saw Bauer and virtually had our hearts pound in real time while watching his counterterrorism magic, both on his own and with CTU. And that's because soooooo much time has indeed passed. As The Associated Press' Frazier Moore points out in his "Jack's Back" article (*** spoiler warning for this link ***), we last saw the sixth season of "24" in spring 2007.

With Thanksgiving coming up, some time off may be coming for you and yours. As you would expect, there are plenty of holiday-themed activities in addition to a ton of entertainment throughout the Southland and beyond. So, here's a bevy of things from comedy, dining and family fare to theater and more that you might want to check out in coming days. As always, I welcome your recommendations, especially when it comes to free or low-cost entertainment.

When it comes to independent professional wrestling, one of the biggest names on the current circuit is Ring of Honor world champion Nigel McGuinness*, who will defend his belt against "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson* in the highly anticipated main event at the promotion's "Rising Above" pay-per-view taping on Saturday (11/22) in Chicago Ridge.

With Daniel Craig drawing James Bond and film fans to the movie theaters with "Quantum of Solace," his second Bond film, I'm wondering if Southlanders have a favorite actor who's played Bond. After all, there's been a number of gentleman from Sean Connery, the original Bond in 1962's "Dr. No," to Craig as the current Bond in the franchise's 22nd film.

Since last week's installment of "This weekend & beyond" primarily featured entertainment in Chicago and outlying areas, it's only appropriate that this week's installment focuses more on the Southland. So, here are a few suggestions involving free fun, music and theater for those looking for something to do.

Whether it's going out or staying in, families undoubtedly try their best to spend quality time together in this hurry-up world. The SouthtownStar is looking to find out what you enjoy doing with each other and what kind of information the SouthtownStar can provide to you that would help you in your quest to have fun.

"Twilight" mania is certainly ramping up, with the release of the movie coming on 11/21. As Her Rockettship mentioned in a recent "This week & beyond" blog entry, tickets already are on sale for the vampire movie based on the wildly successful best-selling book series by Stephenie Meyer. This has me wondering if you prefer reading a book or seeing the silver screen version of it, or if you like both.

With Veterans Day on its way, this installment of "This weekend & beyond" covers a few ways to mark the special day along with some suggestions involving comedy, music and theater. As always, I welcome your suggestions of free fun or other entertainment events that Southlanders might enjoy.

There's plenty going on during this Election Day, from all kinds of Election Night events to free eats and drinks. Here's just a taste of what's going on today, and I hope you'll share what you've come across or have planned for tonight.

Jessi Virtusio

Jessi Virtusio is the SouthtownStar’s arts and entertainment editor. She also pens the paper’s Gig of the Week and pro wrestling columns. You’ll usually find her enjoying a concert or other special event. She’s always looking to discuss music, good eats, movies and more, so let her know what’s on your mind.